Spring plankless truck



April 30, 1940., D. M. LIGHT SPRING PLANKLES'S TRUCK Filed Dec. 6, 1937 3 Sheets-Shef l Ill April 30, 1940.

D. M. LIGHT SPRING PLANKLESS TRUCK Filed Dec. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 David/VI IZZY 61 am April 30, 1940.

- D. M. LIGHT smmke PLANKLESS. TRUCK Filed Dc. e, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented Apr.-30, i g

' UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2.199.800 sPnmG rmnxmss TRUCK David M.-Light, Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill.. a corporation of New Jersey Application December 6, 1937, Serial No. 118,230

21 Claims. (Cl. ins-191.2

My invention relates to railway trucks of the Figure 9 is a plan view of the bolster struc type generally known as four wheel trucks in ture shown in Figure 8, the right half thereof which the parts comprise spaced side frames showing the top plan and the left half the botjoined by a load carrying member or bolster. tom plan; and v It is an object of my invention to provide such Figure is a sectional view through the end 5 a four wheel railway truck wherein the manner portion of my novel bolster structure, the secof connecting the side frame and-the bolster is tion being taken substantially in the vertical so simplified as to expedite wheel changes which plane indicated by the line Iii-l0 of Figure 8. are frequently necessary because of wheel wear. Describing the features of my invention in .10 A more specific object of my invention is to more detail and referring particularly for a mo- 10 provide a novel form of guide means on the side ment to Figures 1 and 2, my novel truck has the frame columns and on.the cooperating bolster usual spaced-side frames v2, 2 having the com ends which will permit the bolster to be quickly pression member 4 and the tensionmember 6, dissociated from the side frames without disboth of box section in the central portion thereturbing the spring assembly which is a normal of as shown in Figure 1. The novel features of 15 part of such a truck structure. my side frame, to be hereafter described in de- My invention further contemplates aside tail, are directed more particularly to the form frame wherein the brake hanger bracket and the of the spaced columns 8. 8integrally formed with bolster guide means at each side of the bolster the tension and compression members and deopening of said side frame will be incorporated fining therewith the window opening ill within 20 in a single bracket structm'e of novel form and which projects the end ll of the bolster I! for arrangement. cooperation therewith. The side frame has the Other features attained in my novel truck brake hangerbrackets II, M of novel form instructure will be apparent in the following dewardly projecting therefrom on opposite, sides scription and in the appended claims. of the bolster and providing support for brake 25 In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse secheads and brake shoes designed to have engagetional view through a truck structure embodying ment with the wheels (not shown) at opposite my invention; the section being taken substanends of the truck. The central'portion of the tially in the transverse center line of the truck bolster is of box-like structure conforming in and the bolster being shown in elevation; general to a well-known design of cast steel bol- 30 Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly ster for four wheel railway trucks but the bolin section, of thetruck structure shown in Figster end II is of novel form and its manner of ure' 1, the section being taken'substantially in cooperating with guide means on the side frame the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 3; is a feature of my invention to be hereafter more Figure 3 is a side elevation showing one end particularly described. As shown in Figures ,1 35 of the side frame structure incorporated in my and 2 it may be observed that the side frame coinovel truck, it being understood that opposite umns 8, '8 are spaced apart at their outer edges ends of the structure are similar; adistance indicated at A and that the faces of Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the said columns diverge in shallow reverse curves 40 side frame structure shown in Figure 3; to reach-a maximum distance apart as indicated 40 Figure 5 is a sectional view through the side at B adjacent the inner edges of the'columns frame shown in Figures 3 and 4, the section beand at the junctures of said column. with the ing taken in the vertical plane bisecting the before-mentioned brackets I4. Each of the frame t a v y; brackets I4 is provided with a vertical channel Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view. of iii, of special form having cooperation with the 5 ,the inner face of the side frame structure shown flange l8 on the adjacent side of the bolster, said in Figures 3 to 5; J flange being complementary in form to said Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially channel as hereafter more particularly described.

in the vertical plane indicated by the line 1- 1 The bolster end isseated upon the spring group of Figure 4; diagrammatically indicated at 20, said springs 50 Figure 8 is a view of my novel form of bolster, being retained as a group. by the upper-and lower the right half thereof being. in elevationand he spring plates 22 and 24, said upper spring plate :i left half thereof a section in the vertical pl ne cooperating with the bottom wall of the bolster bisecting the bolster longitudinally and substanthrough positioning means indicated at 26 and tially as-indicated by the line 8-8of Figure 9; said bottom spring plate similarly cooperating 55 upper chord of the by positioning means indicated at 28, 28 with the spring seat portion 88 of the side frame 2. The tension member 8 is widened between the columns 8, 8 outwardly as shown at 32 and inwardly as indicated at 34 to provide the necessary spring seat, and the inner edge of said seat'is extended as at 88 to provide support .for the brake beam safety bracket 88 which normally underlies the brake beam.

The novel features of my side frame are shown in greater detail in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive wherein it may be observed that the side frame is of the usual truss structure with the compression member 4 and the tension member 8 joined by the integral spaced columns 8, 8 and merging at their ends with the integrally formed journal boxes 48 which provide the usual means of cooperation with wheel and axle assemblies (not shown). The end portion of the compression member between the column 8 and the journal box 48 is generally U-shaped in section as indicated at 42 (Figure 6) and the end portion of the tension member is of a well known form having at 44 (Figure 6) the section indicated. The

columns 8, 8 are spaced emit a maximum along their lower portions as indicated at 48 (Figure 3), thus accommodating a spring grouping of maximum'size. For the greater portion of their length, however, they have the configuration above mentioned and as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, said configuration extending from an intermediate point of the column as indicated at 48 (Figure 3) to the top thereof except for the slight radius clearance at the upper end as indicated at 58. This portion of the column extending between the points 48 and 58 is widened to the depth indicated at C (Figure 5) to provide a maximum bearing area between the inner face of the column and the side of the associated bolster and as well illustrated in Figure 2. The shallow reverse curve formation of the inner wall of the column 8 as previously described is also shown at 52 in Figure 4.

Figures 4 to '7 inclusive show most clearly the form of my novel combination brake hanger and guide bracket I4. The said bracket I4 is integrally formed on the inner face of the column 8 and has the upper horizontal wall 54 (Figure '7) reinforced by the vertical rib 58, said horizontal wall84 merging at with the vertical wall 58 as well as with the brake hanger bracket 88 and the rib 8I at its lower end, all of said structure being integrally cast with the side frame proper. 0n the lower portion of the vertical wall 58 and along the outer-edge thereof is formed the ver tical flange 82- (Figure 4), the lower extremity of said flange being indicated at 84 and the upper extremity thereof at 88 (Figures 5 and 6), said flange having the diagonally arranged inner face 88 of the form most clearly apparent in the sectional view of Figure 2 or in the top plan view of Figure 4. The inner wall of the side frame column opposite the face 88 is also diagonally arranged as indicated at I8, said diagonally arranged faces 88 and 18 forming with the wall 88 a channel in a form complementary to the vertical guide lug I8 on the side of the bolster as most clearly seen in Figure 2. Thus the flange 82 is centrally located vertically of the side frame column and along the inner edge of the lower half of the bracket I4, the upper end of said flange 82 being spaced below the bottom wall of the compression member 4 a distance D (Figures 3 and 6), thus providing sumcient. clearance between the flanges 82 and the compression member manner of connecting the 4 to permit the insertion or removal of the bolster end II without disturbing the spring assembly upon which the bolster end may be seated.

Referring more particularly to Figures 8 to 10, it will be observed that my novel bolster has a central structure of usual box-like formation having the generally horizontal top wall I2 with the usual center bearing 14 and side bearings I8 and I8, the side walls 88 and 82 and the bottom wall 84 horizontal under the center post 88 and extending diagonally upward on either side of the central portion 84 as at 88 and 88 to merge with the novel end structure. The end portions of my novel bolster are also box-like but relatively shallow as may be seen in the sectional view of Figure 8. The top wall 12 of the main body of the bolster merges with the end top wall 82 in a sloping portion indicated at 84, the outer edge of said sloping portion 84 merging with the horizontal top, wall 82 of the bolster in the vicinity' of the guide flanges I8, I8. Outwardly of the guide lugs I8 the side walls of the bolster are bulged laterally of said bolster as indicated at 88, 88 and from the said points 88, 88 the side walls narrow gradually in reverse curves as indicated at 88, 88 toward the end of the bolster. The faces of these side walls at the ends of the bolster are complementary in form to the inner faces of the widened portions of the columns 8 of the side frames as indicated at in Figure 5. From a consideration of Figure 10 observed that the bulged or widened the bolster end shown at 88 does not extend throughthe bottom wall I88 thereof, the horizontal lower edge of said widened portion being indicated at I82, most clearly seen at the right of Figure 8, or in the offset, indicated at I 82 in Figure 10. The depth of the side walls at the bulged portions 88, 88 is relatively shallow as indicated at E (Figure 10), said dimension E being less than the dimension D heretofore referred to (Figure 6) in order to permit assembly or disportion of mantling of the bolster end between the side frame columns without disturbing sembly. It may also be observed tical guide flanges I8 on the sides ends extend downwardly only to said widened portion of the bolster and as most clearly seen at I82 (Figure 10). The bottom wall I88 of the bolster end therefore is somewhat narrower than the top wall I84 as shown in Figure 10, the width of said bottom at F being confined to a dimension somewhat less than the distance betw'eenthe flanges 82, 82 on the spaced columns 8, 8 of the side frame. It will be apparent therefore that I have pro- ,vided a novel bolster end structure and a new bolster ends 'to the spaced side frames. By a consideration of the before-mentioned description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the curved and tapering side faces on the ends of the bolster will provide a maximum bearing against the complementary guide columns of the side frame. Furthermore, that my novel method of interconnecting the bolster ends with the side frame permits said parts to be assembled or dismantled without disturbing group which is seated as usual upon the tension member of the side frame between the columns. It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms the spring asthat the verof the bolster it may be I the depth of wall as indicated the position of. the spring of the device will of co rse be apparent to those 7 edges, brackets on-the inner edgesof said columns, said brackets having a vertical height substantially equal to the vertical height of said faces, vertical flanges formed on said brackets and extending upwardly from their lower edges, said flanges defining with the ecmes of the adjacent columns vertical guide channels, a bolster end extending into said opening. and seated on said spring group, said bolster end being relatively shallow and having lateral guide faces complementary in form to the before-mentioned faces and cooperating therewith, vertical flanges on the side walls of said bolster cooperating with said vertical channels, said parts being so constructed and arranged as to'permit said bolster end to be elevated above the flanges on said brackets and disengaged from said side frame.

2. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming a bolster opening, said columns having opposed faces forming bolster guiding surfaces, the outer edges of said faces being spaced apart a minimum distance and flaring inwardly therefrom along reverse curves to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, each of said columns having an inwardly directed bracket, with brake hanger means adjacent its upper end and a guide flange adjacent its lower end, the top of said flange having substantial vertical clearance from theolowermost portionoof said compression member, each of said guide flanges forming with the adjacent column a substantially V-shaped channel, a bolster having an end projecting into said opening, said bolster end having column guide faces complementary in form to the faces of said columns and guide flanges formed on said bolster inwardly of said faces, said last-mentioned flanges having cooperation with said before-mentioned channels and being releasable from said co-operation by vertical movement whereby said bolster may be removed from said opening through said clearance.

3. A truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns defining therewith a bolster opening,

said columns having opposed guidefaces spaced apart a minimum distance at their outer edges and tapering therefrom to a maximum distance at their inner edges, inwardly directed brackets formed on said columns, each of said brackets having along the lower portion thereof a vertical flange spaced from said compression member to form vertical clearance therewith and defining with the inner edge of the adjacent column a substantially V-shaped vertical channel, a

bolster having an end projecting into said opening, said bolster having on opposite sides thereof guide faces complementary in form to the guide faces on saidcolumns, and vertical guide lugs on said bolster inwardlyof said faces having cooperation respectively with said channels and being releasable from said cooperation't by vertical movement whereby sjiid'bolster may be removed with integral columns defining the sidesv of a maximum distance apart at their inner edges,

brackets extending along the inner edges of each of said columns for the length of said faces, vertical flanges on said brackets extending from their lower edges for substantially half their height, a bolster of general box structure having a relatlvelyshallow end portion projecting into said opening, said end portion having lateral walls complementary in form to and cooperatingwith said faces, and vertical flanges cooperating with said first-mentioned flanges, said parts being so constructed as to permit the elevation of said bolster to disengage said flanges and remove said bolster end from said opening.

5. In a four wheel car truck, spaced truss type side frames, abolster with guide means connecting said frames, each of said frames comprising a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, said columns having their opposed faces spaced apart a minimum distance at the outer edges of said faces and tapering therefrom in reverse curves to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, brackets projecting inwardly from each of said'columns, eachof said brackets comprising an outwardly directed brake hanger jaw on the upper portion thereof and an inwardly directed vertical flange on the lower portion thereof, said flange having wide vertical clearance from said compression member andforming with the adjacent wall of the column a substantially V-shaped vertical channel for the reception of said guide means, saidbolster being removable from said opening through said clearance by vertical movement thereof to disengage said guide means from said channel.

6. A truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said columns having opposed guide faces spaced apart a minimum distance attheir outer edges and tapering therefrom to a maximum distance at their inner edges, inwardly directed brackets formed on said columns, each of said brackets having along the lower portion thereof a vertical flange spaced from said compression member'to 'form vertical clearance therewith and defining with the inner edge of the adjacent column a bolster inwardly of said faces having cooperation respectively with said channels, said bolster 55 being. vertically movable to release the engagement between said guide lugs and said channels and remove said bolster end from said opening through said clearance.

'7. In a four wheel truck, a truss side frame bolster opening, said columns being spaced apart a maximum distance along th'eirlower portions and having along their upper portionsguideffaces i flaring inwardly of said truchibrackets on said depth of the bolster end.

8. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having integral columns defining the opposite sides of a bolster opening, said columns having bolster guide faces with their outer edges spaced apart a minimum distance and flaring therefrom in shallow reverse curves to a maximum distance apart integral with said columns, said brackets having vertical flanges along their lower portions with substantial vertical clearance from said compression member and forming with the adjacent edges of said columns substantially V-shaped channels, a bolster end projecting into said opening and having guide faces complementary in form and cooperating with the before-mentioned guide faces, and vertical flanges on the sides of said bolster cooperating with said channels, said bolster being vertically movable to release engagement between said flanges and said channels and permit the removal of said bolster end from said opening through said clearance.

9. In a truss side frame, a compression member, a tension member, and spaced integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, each of said columns having a guide face whose outer edge is spaced a minimum distance from the plane bisecting said side frame transversely, said face flaring therefrom to a maximum distance from said plane at its inner edge, an integral bracket on the inner edge of said column along the upper portion thereof, said bracket having a brake hanger jaw at the upper end thereof and a vertical flange extending from its lower edge for approximately half the height of said bracket whereby clearance is provided between the top of said flange and the bottom of said compression member to permit the assembling or dismantling of an associated bolster end, said flange forming with the edge of the adjacent column a vertical and substantially v shape'd channel for. cooperation with guide means on an associated bolster.

10. In afour wheel railway truck, a truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, said columns having integral inwardly directed brackets with brake hanger jaws adjacent their upper ends and vertical flanges along the lower portions thereof but spaced from said compression member to have vertical clearance therewith and defining with the opposed walls of said columns vertical V- shaped channels, a bolster having an end projecting into said opening between said columns and having vertical flanges of aform complementary to said channels and cooperating therewith to retain said bolster and said side frame in operative relationship, said bolster being vertically movable to release said flanges from said channels and permit disengagement of said bolster from said side frame and removal from said opening through said clearance.

11. In a four wheel truck, spaced side frames, each of said side frames having a compression at their inner edges, brackets being located a vertical member, a tension member, and spaced integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, guide faces on said columns, said guide faces having their outer edges spaced apart a minimum distance and flaring therefrom to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, brackets on said columns, vertical flanges on said brackets so spaced from said compression member as to form vertical clearance therewith, and abolster extending between said side frames and having its ends in said openings respectively, each of said bolster ends having side walls complementary in form to said faces, and vertical guide flanges cooperating with said before-mentioned flanges to retainsaid parts in cooperative relationship, said bolster being vertically movable to release the engagement between said bracket flanges and said guide flanges and permit removal of said bolster from said opening through said clearance. 12. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns forming a bolster opening, said columns having opposed faces forming bolster guiding surfaces, the outer edge of said faces being spaced apart a minimum distance and flaring inwardly therefrom along reverse curves to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges,-each of said columns having an inwardly directed bracket with brake hanger means adjacent its upper end and a guide flange adjacent its lower end, each of said guide flanges distance below said compression member substantially equal to the flange length and forming with the adjacent column a substantially v-shaped channel for cooperation with guide means on an associated bolster.

13. A truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and integral columns defining therewith a bolster opening, said columns having opposed guide faces spaced apart a minimum distance at their outer edges and tapering therefrom to a maximumdistance at their inner edges, inwardly directed brackets formed on said columns, each of said brackets having along the lower portion thereof a vertical flange defining with the inner edge of the adjacent column a substantially V-shaped vertical channel for cooperation with guide means on an associated bolster, each of said flanges being spaced below said compression member a distance substantially equal to the flange length.

14. In a truss side frame having a compression member, integral columns defining the sides of a bolster opening, uide faces along the upper portions of said columns and spaced apart a minimum distance at their outer edges, said faces flaring in shallow reverse curves from their outer 15. In a truss side frame having a compressionmember, integral columns defining the sides of a bolster opening, guide faces along the upper portions of said columns and spaced apart a mini- Tfium distance at their outer edges, said faces flaring from said outer edges to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, brackets integrally formed on the inner edges of said columns aloiiptlre upper portions thereof, each of said brackets h ing a vertical flange extending upwardly from itsdower edge and defining with the opposed edge of\the adjacent column a substantially 'V-shaped vertical channel, said vertical flange extending ver approximately half the height of said bracket, and having vertical clearance from said compression member substantially equal to the length of said flange..

16. A truss type side frame having a compression member, a bolster opening defined by integral columns at oppositesides thereof, said columns having opposed guide faces spaced aparta minimum distance at their outer edges and flaring therefrom in reverse curves to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, inwardly directed brackets on said columns, said brackets having along their edges remote from said columns vertical flanges forming substantially V- shaped channels with the opposed edges of said columns, the tops of said flanges being spaced from said compression member a distance equal to their length.

1'7. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss type side frame having a compression member, a tension member and spaced integral columns forming therewith a bolster opening, guide faces on the upper portions of said columns, said faces being spaced apart a minimum distance at their outer edges and flaring therefrom in shallow reverse curves to a maximum distance apart at their inner edges, and inwardly directed brackets on said columns supporting vertical flanges parallel with said edges, the tops of said flanges being spaced from said compression member a vertical distance substantially equal to their length.

18. In a four wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and spaced columns forming a bolster opening, said columns having angularly disposed faces forming bolster guide surfaces, inwardly directed brackets on said columns supporting vertica1 flanges having their tops spaced from said compression member to form vertical clearance therewith, a bolster end extending into said opening and having vertical guide lugs cooperating with said flanges to retain said parts in assembly, said bolster end having at opposite sides thereof diagonally arranged guide faces cooperating with said before-mentioned surfaces, said lugs being formedon said bolster endinboard of said surfaces, said bolster end being vertically movable in said opening to disengage said lugs from said flanges and remove said bolster end from said engagement through said clearance.

19. In a four wheelrailway truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and spaced columns forming a bolster opening, said columns having angularly disposed faces forming bolster guide surfaces, brackets along the inner edges of said columns, vertical flanges on the lower portions of said brackets having vertical clearance from said compression member, and a bolster extending through said opening and having lugs engaging said flanges to retain said parts in assembled relationship,- said bolster having at opposite sides thereof diagonally arranged guide faces cooperating with said before-mentioned surfaces, said lugs being formed on said bolster inboard of said surfaces, said bolster being vertically movable in said opening 'to disengage said lugs from said flanges and remove said bolster from said opening through said clearance.

20. In a four-wheel railway truck, a truss side frame having a compression member, a tension member, and spaced columns forming a bolster opening, said columns having angularly disposed faces forming bolster guide surfaces, brackets on,

the inner edges of said columns with guide flanges along the lower portions thereof spaced from said compression member to form vertical clearance therewith, and a bolster extending into said opening with guide lugs engaging said flanges, said bolster having on opposite sides thereof guide surfaces engaging said before-mentioned surfaces, said guide surfaces on said bolster being formed entirely outboard of said guide lugs, said bolster being vertically movable to disengage said lug and permit the withdrawal of said bolster from said opening through said clearance.

21. In a four wheel truck, a truss sideframe with integral columns, said columns being spaced apart a maximum distance along their lower portions and having along their upper portions diagonally arranged guide faces;brackets on said columns, vertical flanges on said brackets defining with the edges of adjacent columns vertical channels, a bolster end extending into said opening and having guide faces in abutment with said first-mentioned faces, and means on opposite sides of said bolster end cooperating with said channel to retain said parts in assembled relationship, the vertical distance between the tops of said flanges and the compression member of said frame being greater than the depth of said bolster end.

DAVID M. LIGHT. 

